Hanger system for draperies and other vertical structure treatments

ABSTRACT

A treatment for mounting on a vertical structure, the treatment comprising a continuous insertion means or plurality of insertion elements and a drapery rod having a central axis. The drapery rod also has at least one channel groove. The at least one channel groove includes an opening narrower than the insertion means or elements. Further, the at least one channel groove is substantially parallel with the central axis of the drapery rod to allow the continuous insertion means or elements to be placed therein. The insertion means or insertion elements fit within the at least one channel groove. Finally, the drapery rod is supported at either end by end brackets which have a mating profile for fitting within the channel groove.

1. CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of earlier filed Ser. No.10/028,477, filed Dec. 19, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser.No. 09/982,378, filed Oct. 18, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part ofSer. No. 09/545,553, filed Apr. 7, 2000, all entitled “DraperyTreatment”, by the same inventor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

2. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to treatments for windows. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to treatments such as drapesand curtains and the rod that holds such in place on a wall.

3. Description of the Prior Art

Draperies, curtains, and other solid or soft materials have been usedfor years in the interior decorating arts. These devices serve both afunctional and a decorative purpose. The draperies can act as insulationboth in the winter and summer for windows and doorways, while alsokeeping light out of a room, or diminishing direct light. Further,drapes and other treatments are decorative and enhance the aestheticbeauty of an interior room. Given the abundant use of drapes and otherwindow treatments, much attention has been given to finding ways inwhich to hang the drapes from the wall or window.

Given the time and expense in installing window treatments, it would beideal to have the drapery material and the drapery rod be bothfunctional and decorative, while also easily installed. What is thusneeded is a treatment that is versatile enough to allow both solid andfabric drapery materials to be installed on a wall, while also beingeasy and inexpensive to implement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a meansfor placing a drapery or solid structure on a wall for functional anddecorative effect, especially before a window.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a treatment thatis simpler to use than prior window treatments.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a treatment thatis easier to use and of lower cost than prior art treatments.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a treatment thatcan utilize heavier fabrics such as upholstery weight and flannelinter-lined draperies.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a treatmentwherein draperies can be easily moved with respect to the drapery rodwithout becoming jammed.

These and other objects are achieved by providing a treatment formounting on a vertical structure such as a wall, the treatmentcomprising a drapery having a continuous insertion means or plurality ofinsertion elements and a drapery rod having a central axis. The draperyrod has at least one channel groove. The rod is typically mounted by atleast two brackets onto the vertical structure such that it issubstantially parallel with the horizon. Further, at least one channelgroove is substantially parallel with the central axis of the draperyrod, the channel groove forming a uniform groove on the rod surface toallow the insertion means to be placed therein. The drapery rod iscoupled to the vertical structure, the continuous insertion means orplurality of insertion elements fitting within at least one channelgroove, thus allowing the drapery to hang substantially parallel to thevertical structure.

The term “drapery” refers in general to fabric, wood, metal, or plasticformations such as traditional curtains, drapes, fabric draperies,valances, or shade boards, that are used as decorative and functionaltreatments to hang from vertical or above-floor level structures such aswalls, doors, ceilings, windows, or other structures.

The drapery rod can be made of wood, metal, or other suitable, sturdymaterials. The drapery can be either soft materials such as fabric or asolid material such as wood or metal, and being made decorative and ofvarious shapes and sizes. The continuous insertion means or plurality ofinsertion elements that are coupled to the drapery are of a shape andsize that will allow them to fit within the channel groove or mortisewithin the drapery rod and held in place once mounted on a wall. Amongthe devices that may be used as the insertion means or elements is atraversing mechanism, such as one employing rollers, welt-cording sewnto the top edge of a fabric insert, fabric draped over a metal rod, or awooden dowel.

Additional objects, features and advantages will be apparent in thewritten description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are setforth in the appended claims. The invention itself however, as well as apreferred mode of use, further objects and advantages thereof, will bestbe understood by reference to the following detailed description of anillustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the treatment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a close-up view of one embodiment of the drapery rod andcontinuous insertion means of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 wherein the insertion meansis inserted into the drapery rod;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the insertionmeans of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the insertion means in FIG. 4 beinginserted into a drapery rod of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the treatment;

FIG. 7 is a close-up of the drapery in FIG. 6 being inserted into thedrapery rod of the invention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of an end bracket used with the drapery rodof the invention; and

FIG. 9 is a side view of the end bracket inserted into the drapery rodof the invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the inventionshowing a drapery rod with a plurality of insertion elements;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a window treatment for mounting on a verticalstructure such as a wall, door, or window. Typically, the treatment is adrapery placed before a window or doorway having an opening, the draperybeing both decorative and functional in blocking light and asinsulation. The term drapery is used to refer to any fabric, wood,metal, plastic, or other type of material that is draped or hung from arod for decorative and/or insulation purposes. When traditional fabricdrapes or curtains are used as the drapery, the drapes may haveassociated drawing apparatuses. The treatment comprises a drapery rodand a drapery having a continuous insertion means, such as sewn-incording or an attached dowel, or a drapery attached to a plurality ofinsertion elements, such as elements including a traversing mechanism.

The drapery rod is best described as having a central axis and alsohaving at least one channel groove. The drapery rod can be cylindricalin shape, square or rectangular in cross-section, oval, or other shapes.Preferably, the drapery rod should be of such strength that it can holddrapery or wood structures from at least 1-60 lbs. The drapery rod istypically mounted to the wall or other vertical structure by at leasttwo brackets such that the drapery rod is substantially parallel withthe horizon, or level. The brackets can be any solid structure that canhold the entire treatment to the wall.

The channel groove cut into the drapery rod allows the fabric to slideinside the channel. If a continuous insertion means is utilized, cordingor a metal rod can act as the continuous insertion means and hold thefabric in place on the drapery rod. If a plurality of insertion elementsis used, cording, a metal rod, or a traversing mechanism includingrollers may act as the insertion means and hold the fabric in place. Thefabric can be hand-folded as well to create a variety of draperytreatments. The drapery rod and continuous insertion means or pluralityof insertion elements can be designed such that no hooks, pleats, rings,tabs, or hook-and-loop materials are needed to hold the fabric in place.

There may be more than one channel groove cut into the drapery rod. Inthe preferred embodiment, there is one channel groove in the drapery rodthat is substantially parallel with the central axis of the drapery rod.The channel groove forms a uniform groove on the rod surface to allowthe insertion means or elements to be placed therein.

The drapery and the continuous insertion means or insertion elements area unitary feature of the invention, both being coupled together to formone unit. The drapery is inserted using manual force into the draperyrod through the channel, thus forming the treatment of the invention.The treatment, when assembled, comprises the drapery rod being coupledto the vertical structure while the continuous insertion means orplurality of insertion elements are fitted within at least one channelgroove, thus allowing the drapery to hang substantially parallel to thevertical structure.

As stated, the continuous insertion means can be a rod, wherein the rodis positioned within the groove created within the drapery rod. Theinsertion means can be made from either a solid material such as wood ormetal, or made from a flexible material such as a natural or syntheticfiber or mesh formed into a cylindrical shape that fits the width of thedrapery rod to be used.

Alternatively, a plurality of insertion elements, each of a discretelength less than the length of the groove created within the draperyrod, can be utilized in place of the continuous insertion means. Likethe continuous insertion means, each insertion element can be a rod ofeither solid material or flexible material. Or, the insertion elementscan be traversing mechanisms. In either case, the plurality of insertionelements are positioned within the groove created within the draperyrod. In this embodiment, it is preferred that each insertion element bea traversing mechanism including four rollers.

The invention is described more particularly with reference to theFigures, beginning with FIG. 1. In general, treatment 11 consists ofdrapery rod 13 having a central axis A, and drapery 15. Drapery 15 canbe made from a variety of soft or rigid materials. The soft material maybe such materials as cotton, nylon, polyester, or other woven andnon-woven material, while the rigid material may be material such asmetal or wood. The drapery 15 is typically of a decorative nature suchthat it may have pleats, various colors and/or designs. Also, drapery 15may be designed so that it can be drawn upwards or downwards with adrawing means, such as drawstrings that utilize grommets attached belowthe cording that is inserted into the groove of the drapery rod.

The continuous insertion means will be described in further detail withreference to FIG. 2. The drapery rod end 27 of drapery rod 13 is shownhaving the channel groove 17 therein. Further, the drapery rod 13 has arod surface 29 through which the channel groove 17 forms a groove orcavity along the outside surface extending inward into drapery rod 13.In the present embodiment, the groove consists of surfaces 101 and 103that form an initial groove between the surface 29 and the groove 17,and surfaces 105, 107, and 109 which form the inside surface of thegroove 17 wherein the continuous insertion means resides once inserted.

The channel groove is designed so that the bottom section of the grooveis smaller than the top section. This design allows the continuousinsertion means 31 to stay secure within the groove as shown in FIG. 2.In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the continuous insertion means 31 isa circular-shaped welt-cording designed to insert into the channel 17.FIG. 2 also illustrates (with the use of a dotted line) a secondapplication of a ⅜″ solid metal rod with fabric 35 wrapped over 31 beinginserted in the same manner into the channel groove. Although only onechannel groove is shown in FIG. 2, it is to be understood that more thanone groove can be formed into the drapery rod 13, such that layeredfabrics or stationary panels can be added to the rod 13.

The continuous insertion means inserted into the drapery rod 13 is shownwith reference to FIG. 3, showing a cutaway end view of drapery rod 13with the continuous insertion means 31 therein. Bracket 19 supports thedrapery rod 13 against a vertical wall structure 31 therein. Bracket 19supports the drapery rod 13 against a vertical structure 33. The bracket19 is supported by fastening means 37 such as a screw, hollow-wallanchor, toggle, bolt or other suitable fastening mean. As shown in FIG.8, special end brackets 80 may be used to hold the fabric 15 in place.The end brackets have a plate 89 that can be attached to the verticalstructure 33 by fastening means 37. Perpendicularly extending from theplate 86 (82 in FIG. 9) is a horizontal support member 84. The length ofthe horizontal support member 84 is at least the radius of the draperyrod 13. Since the drapery rod 13 is supported by the special bracketsthere must be sufficient area between the vertical structure 33 and thespecial bracket 80 to allow for placement and support of the drapery rod13. The vertical support member 84 has a decorative side 90 (92 in FIG.9) and a support side 94 parallel to the function of supporting thedrapery rod 13. The support side 94 ends in a general “T” shaped profile88 (FIG. 9) or any other profile that would fit into channel groove 17.Thus, the profile 88 fits within the same groove 17 that is used tosupport the continuous insertion means 31.

As shown in FIG. 3, the drapery material 15 (in this case a fabricmaterial) is wrapped or sewn around continuous insertion means 31. Thefabric thus formed constitutes a sleeve or wrap 35 (FIG. 2) and 15 (FIG.3). In general, channel groove 17 should be formed such that thedistance between surface 101 and 103 (FIG. 2) is smaller than thedistance between surface 105 and 107 (FIG. 3). This allows thecontinuous insertion means 31, which can be either a solid metal rod orwelt-cord formed into the fabric material, to be secured within thegroove 17 while the material hangs down from the channel to the exteriorthus forming a drapery.

FIG. 4 further illustrates the embodiment of the invention, whereinflexible welt-cording 39 (or a ⅜″ solid metal rod) forms the continuousinsertion means of the invention. The welt-cording 39 is made of aflexible material such as a cotton, polyester, or polymer like nylonmaterial woven tightly enough to form a cylindrically shaped cord. Thewelt-cording 39 is either sewn into a sleeve 41 or the fabric draperymaterial 15 is wrapped around the ⅜″ solid metal rod 39, forming thesleeve or wrap 41. The manual insertion of the welt-cording 41 with thedrapery rod 13 is shown with reference to FIG. 5, wherein the draperyrod 13 is manually manipulated while also manipulating the welt-cording41 to insert the fabric into the channel groove 17. The welt-cording 41is inserted into the channel groove 17 with the fabric drapery hangingfree from the channel formed by the channel groove 17. The welt-cording39 (FIG. 4) (or the ⅜″ solid metal rod 39 FIG. 4) can be insertedcontinuously until it forms one continuous drapery as shown in FIG. 1.It is to be understood that the length of the welt-cording 39 (FIG. 4)(or the ⅜″ solid metal rod 39 FIG. 4), can be equal to or less than thelength of the drapery rod 13 (FIG. 5).

The invention can be easily assembled by one person as shown in FIG. 5,wherein a cording of about ¾ inch coupled to a drapery is being insertedinto the channel groove. While one hand is gripping the rod, anotherhand grips the drapery. The insertion means is then inserted into thechannel 17 at either end of the rod, followed by insertion of thedrapery into the channel. The drapery is slid into the channel as onecontinuous piece, the insertion means being a continuous, unitary partof the drapery itself.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown specifically with referenceto FIG. 6. A solid drapery material 43 or “shade board” is made of wood,plastic or metal and cut to any design or shape. This formation (eventhough it is elongated in the illustration) is designed to cover the topof the wall space above the window. Covering the top of the window alsoconceals the headrails of blinds and shades that are often used inwindows to provide light control and privacy. The drapery 43 has a widthW that, in the present embodiment, is less than the length of thedrapery rod. The shade board also allows the wall space above the windowopenings to be covered. Covering the wall space above a window openingallows the window fashion treatment to be made taller. In windowfashions, height is a desirable element of design. The solid drapery rod43 hangs from drapery rod 13 in a similar manner to a fabric draperysuch as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring further to FIG. 7, solid drapery 43 has a routed T-slot tenonjoint 45 cut into the upper portion of the drapery, thus forming thecontinuous insertion means of the present invention. The T-slot joint 45is cut such that it matches the inside structure of channel groove 17(mortise). The T-slot joint 45 forms two lips 47 (other not shown) oneither side of drapery 43, thus contacting surfaces 49 and 51 onceinserted into groove 17. It is to be understood that the total width Wof the drapery 43 can be equal to or less than the length of drapery rod13.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown with reference to FIG. 10.In this embodiment of the invention, a plurality of insertion elements111 is utililized. Preferably each insertion element 111 is a traversingmechanism consisting of multiple rollers 113, 115, 117, 119 and a stem121. The stem 121 can be attached to the drapery material 15 in anynumber of ways, such as by sewing the stem 121 to the drapery material15, or through the use of hooks, rings, Velcro, or other individualfastening devices. Also, the drapery material 15 can first be attachedto a support structure 123 which then attaches to the insertion element111. The finial plug 125 is inserted into the channel groove at each endof the drapery rod. The finial plug 125 is used to both attach thefinial to the rod with pendant 127 and to secure the last pleat on adrapery panel so that it does not move when the drapery is opened orclosed.

There are several advantages to the present invention.

The treatment, once assembled, creates a system for a variety of designapplications. The fabric can be designed in a variety of sizes, shapesand colors to create swags, traditional draperies, Roman shades,balloons, and stationary panels.

The treatment allows the use of heavier drapery materials, such asupholstery fabrics and flannel interlined draperies.

The cording often used merely for decorative purposes on draperies canbe used functionally in the present invention, whereby the cording isinserted into the channel groove, thus serving as a continuous insertionmeans.

The present invention allows the use of solid (wood, metal) and fabricdraperies on the same structure, both of which can be easily changedout. This is not possible in the prior art, wherein one rod was madeexclusively for hanging fabric drapes using hooks or other means thatwould not easily be adaptable to a heavier, solid wood or metalstructure.

The use of a plurality of insertion elements as disclosed herein allowsone to open and close draperies without having the traversing mechanismlock up and bind and without the traversing mechanism quickly wearingout from the weight of the drapery.

The special end brackets used to support the drapery rod have specialengagement regions which utilize the same channel groove as theinsertion means, thereby further simplifying the design and installationof the window treatment.

Prior to the present invention all traversing wood drapery rods werefabricated having either a ¼ section or ½ section of the rod cut out anda metal track added to the back of the rod to allow pleated draperies totraverse. With the present invention the metal track is an added expensethat is not necessary. The channel groove, along with the traversingmechanism employing rollers allows drapery panels to traverse with ease.

While the invention has been shown in only the above-described forms, itis not thus limited but is susceptible to various changes andmodifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

1. A treatment for mounting on a vertical structure, the treatmentcomprising: a continuous insertion means; a drapery rod having a centralaxis and also having at least one channel groove; the at least onechannel groove including an opening narrower than the continuousinsertion means and being substantially parallel with the central axisof the drapery rod to allow the continuous insertion means to be placedtherein; the continuous insertion means fitting within the at least onechannel groove; and end brackets which have a mating profile for fittingwithin the channel groove.
 2. The treatment of claim 1, wherein saidmating profile includes a first portion narrower than said channelgroove opening and a second portion wider than said channel grooveopening.
 3. The treatment of claim 1, wherein the continuous insertionmeans is cording.
 4. The treatment of claim 1, wherein the continuousinsertion means is a rod.
 5. The treatment of claim 4, wherein the rodis positioned within a channel created within a drapery.
 6. Thetreatment of claim 4, wherein the rod is made from a rigid material suchas metal.
 7. The treatment of claim 1, wherein the continuous insertionmeans is coupled to a drapery.
 8. The treatment of claim 7, wherein thedrapery is a fabric material.
 9. The treatment of claim 7, wherein thedrapery is a rigid material such as metal or wood.
 10. A treatment formounting on a vertical structure, the treatment comprising: a pluralityof insertion elements; a drapery rod having a central axis and alsohaving at least one channel groove; the at least one channel grooveincluding an opening narrower than the insertion elements and beingsubstantially parallel with the central axis of the drapery rod to allowthe insertion elements to be placed therein; the insertion elementsfitting within the at least one channel groove; and end brackets whichhave a mating profile for fitting within the channel groove.
 11. Thetreatment of claim 10, wherein said mating profile includes a firstportion narrower than said channel groove opening and a second portionwider than said channel groove opening.
 12. The treatment of claim 10,wherein the insertion elements are cording.
 13. The treatment of claim10, wherein the insertion elements are rods.
 14. The treatment of claim13, wherein the rods are positioned within a channel created within adrapery.
 15. The treatment of claim 13, wherein the rods are made from arigid material such as metal.
 16. The treatment of claim 10, whereineach of the insertion elements is a traversing mechanism.
 17. Thetreatment of claim 16, wherein each of the traversing mechanisms has atleast one roller.
 18. The treatment of claim 16, wherein each of thetraversing mechanisms has multiple rollers.